Baie Verte council lobbying for crosswalk on highway near Copper Ridge Academy

Council in Baie Verte is lobbying for a crosswalk on Highway 410 in the area of Copper Ridge Academy. - Google Earth

Busy area for students and staff a safety concern: mayor

BAIE VERTE, NL — A busy section of Highway 410 near Copper Ridge Academy in Baie Verte should have a crosswalk, according to council.

Some students and staff walk to nearby restaurants and other businesses during lunch breaks or before and after school. To access them or get to and from school, pedestrians often have to cross the busy main highway through town.

The practice is a concern for council, which decided to write to the ministers of education and transportation and works lobbying to have a crosswalk installed in the area.

Baie Verte Mayor Brandon Philpott

“When the school was put in there, I am surprised there wasn’t a crosswalk put there,” said Mayor Brandon Philpott. “They expect so many of the students to be walking anyways, and we do have so many students who walk to school.

“They are coming down from the school, and that is Highway 410 – they are crossing the highway and there is no crosswalk. It is something we would really like to put in.”

The mayor said council would also like the province to ensure existing crosswalks in town are installed properly and with the appropriate signage.

Philpott said the town did not receive any requests for a crosswalk in the area, but believes one is warranted. He believes pedestrians in this area put themselves in a public safety risk and a crosswalk would help make motorists more aware of the foot traffic in the area.